Best Fractional Chief Executive Officer Services in UK

UK Outsourced Chief Executive Officer Agencies

Finding the right leadership at the right time is one of the biggest inflection points for any growing business. Whether you're navigating investment rounds, scaling a SaaS platform, or restructuring operations post-acquisition, a fractional CEO can bring in the clarity, execution power, and strategic edge without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

This guide curates the top UK-based agencies and professionals offering Fractional, Part-Time, and Virtual CEO services. Backed by real client wins, credible industry presence, and domain specialization, these leaders are redefining what executive support can look like on-demand, embedded, and radically results-driven.

At Digital Reference, we believe in radical authenticity, real leaders, with real results, and real transparency. That’s exactly what this list delivers.

How We Selected These UK Fractional CEO Providers

The providers featured below were selected based on:

• ✅ Client Outcomes: Verified testimonials, successful turnarounds, or growth metrics.
  ✅ Founder Expertise: Demonstrated industry leadership via LinkedIn profiles, talks, or advisory work.
• ✅ Service Focus: Targeted experience with UK-based SMEs, PE-backed ventures, or tech startups.
• ✅ Operating Model: Clear positioning around fractional/virtual leadership, not just traditional consulting.

Each spotlight includes a closer look at the company’s model, philosophy, sectors they serve, and a deep dive into the founder or CEO’s background.

Fractional ,Virtual, & Part-Time CEO Services in the UK 🔦 Provider Spotlights

Oakstone International

🔗 Website: https://www.oakstone.co.uk/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrayner/

Oakstone International has a 30-year track record of delivering high-calibre leadership talent and interim executives to scaling businesses across Europe and the UK. Although traditionally known for executive search, Oakstone has increasingly leaned into fractional leadership solutions, especially in tech, SaaS, and life sciences.

Their model centres on speed, cultural alignment, and outcome-driven placements, not just CV-matching.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Deep relationships with high-growth SaaS and biotech firms
• Bespoke vetting for values alignment and execution fit
• Proven playbooks for go-to-market leadership in European expansions

Paul Rayner, Founder, Oakstone International

Paul Rayner brings more than 30 years of leadership hiring and executive assessment experience. As Oakstone’s founder, he’s known for his ability to read not just the market but the boardroom. His style is pragmatic, no-nonsense, and relationship-first. On LinkedIn, Paul shares frequent commentary on leadership pitfalls, hiring missteps, and how fractional roles are reshaping growth-stage companies.

Fractional Execs

🔗 Website: https://www.fractional-execs.co.uk/

Fractional Execs is a purpose-built firm for scaling UK startups and SMEs looking for strategic leadership without long-term overhead. From fundraising readiness to ops transformation, they offer on-demand executive placements across CEO, COO, and CMO roles.

They focus heavily on tech, SaaS, and B2B services, with strong ties to angel syndicates and accelerator communities.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Laser focus on early-to-mid stage scaling businesses
• Flexible engagements: 1–3 days/week or project-based
• Clients include Series A SaaS and DTC brands preparing for exit

Alan Giles, Founder, Fractional Execs

🔗 https://www.fractional-execs.co.uk/executives/alan-giles

Alan has been working in the Enterprise Mobility, Security and FinTech arena for the past 29 years, and has a wealth of experience with software solution providers at different stages of their corporate lifecycle.

Profici

🔗 Website: https://profici.co.uk/

Profici offers hands-on fractional leadership, but with a twist: most of their team are former founders themselves. That founder empathy gives them an edge when it comes to aligning with owner-managed businesses, D2C brands, and consumer startups.

They’re especially known for stepping in during growth plateaus, where marketing, ops, and strategy need sharp recalibration.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Embedded, high-touch model (not fly-by consulting)
• Known for rescuing underperforming leadership teams
• Founder-friendly contracts and scope

Anthony O'Brien, Founder, Profici

Anthon designed Profici for businesses looking to scale, particularly those needing high-level strategy execution and C-suite expertise without permanent hires.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-obrien/

Dependopolis

🔗 Website: https://www.dependopolis.com/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shebinhassan/

Dependopolis provides on-demand executive leadership and strategic guidance for early-stage UK businesses, with a particular focus on B2B, technology, and consulting firms. Their fractional CEO model is based on agile consulting—short engagements, clear metrics, and rapid impact.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Methodical frameworks for founder-dependence issues
• Emphasis on operational turnaround and go-to-market alignment
• Transparent pricing and defined scope

Shebin Hassan, Founder, Dependopolis

Shebin Hassan built Dependopolis to close the “strategy-to-execution” gap he saw in advisory-only firms. With a background in product, innovation, and digital transformation, Shebin brings a cross-disciplinary lens to every engagement. His leadership philosophy is grounded in data clarity and decisiveness. He frequently writes about scaling pain points and execution blind spots, two things he helps founders fix fast.

ON Consulting

🔗 Website: https://www.on-consulting.uk/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-parry-hann/

What they do:
ON Consulting offers fractional CEO, CCO, and board advisory services, often operating in PE-backed and turnaround environments. With deep experience in B2B, SaaS, and infrastructure-heavy sectors, ON Consulting is known for its ability to quickly define operating models and scale leadership functions with minimal ramp time.

PE portfolio companies, mid-market SaaS firms, and professional services organizations, particularly during critical transformation or post-acquisition phases.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Proven playbooks for scaling GTM and leadership models
• Ability to step into CEO or board-level roles within 1–2 weeks
• Real-world transformation results in industrial SaaS and logistics tech sectors
  
  

Matt Parry-Hann, Founder, ON Consulting

Matt brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience across the UK, Europe, and North America. A former executive at multiple PLCs and scale-ups, he’s known for calm operational command and strategic clarity under pressure. According to his profile, he’s led transformation initiatives exceeding £150M in value, and serves as a board advisor to multiple tech-enabled businesses. His leadership is marked by clear frameworks, trust-building, and fast assimilation into founder-led teams.

London Business Network

🔗 Website: https://londonbusinessnetwork.uk/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilfordaugustus/

What they do:
London Business Network offers fractional CEO and executive advisory services, alongside a powerful business development network. The company is especially active in early-stage and minority-led businesses, supporting founders with strategic scaling, sales growth, and cross-border market entry.

Startups, solo founders, and impact-driven businesses—particularly in tech, creative industries, and professional services.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Deep community engagement with UK-wide entrepreneurial ecosystems
• Known for supporting Black and underrepresented founders in tech
• Combines CEO services with a structured access-to-market and investor-readiness model

Wilford Augustus, Founder, London Business Network

Wilford brings a unique blend of executive gravitas and grassroots mentorship. A well-known advocate for underrepresented founders in the UK, he combines his CEO advisory work with community-building and capital introductions. His LinkedIn profile reveals experience in enterprise B2B sales, public-private partnerships, and advising startups on go-to-market, raising, and scaling. Wilford is regularly invited to speak on panels about inclusive growth and startup funding pathways, an authentic voice in a space often filled with buzzwords.

Why Fractional CEOs Are Booming in the UK

UK businesses especially in tech, services, and owner-led segments are embracing fractional leadership as the new normal. With market uncertainty and the need for flexible, agile decisions, the appeal of having a seasoned operator without the full-time cost is clear.

Fractional CEOs help with:

📈 Scaling strategy and leadership gaps

💼 PE or VC transition periods

🔄 Restructuring, succession, or exits

🧩 Aligning founders and boards

Final Thoughts from Digital Reference

At Digital Reference, we champion leaders who are radically authentic, results-obsessed, and willing to step in where others hesitate. The providers on this list aren’t just experts, they're operators. They bring the mindset of “getting it done,” not just “talking about it.”

Want to build a leadership team that reflects your actual challenges? Start with people who’ve already solved them elsewhere.

For more curated guides on fractional leadership across roles CIOs, CSOs, CISOs, and more check out our other blogs and stay connected.

Let’s build leadership differently.